A day in the life with Elizabeth Miles by Victoria Thompson

When you make your living conning people out of their money, you have to expect good days and bad days. Today was one of the bad ones. A really bad one, in fact. It all started when my partner, Jake, made a stupid mistake and the mark we were working realized he’d been cheated. The mark had his two goons beat Jake up and then sent them after me. I didn’t stand a chance, but luckily, I remembered those women who were marching in front of the White House, which was only a few blocks from the hotel where we were staying. I figured I could blend in with them and the goons wouldn’t dare bother me. And it worked. I got away from them.

But out of the frying pan and into the fire, as somebody once said. Those women were marching to get the vote, which seems like a waste of time to me, and they’d made President Wilson so mad he was having them arrested. A night or two in jail was fine with me, since I’d be safe there, but this time the demonstrators got sentenced to three months of hard labor at a workhouse! This was not at all what I’d had in mind.

They shipped us to Virginia and threw us in jail. Literally. They hit us and dragged us and tossed us into the cells. It was so awful, this night will become known as the Night of Terror. So here I am, in a filthy workhouse with a bunch of crazy females who think they can convince men to let them vote. To make matters even worse, the food is awful, rancid and full of maggots, so now they’re talking about going on a hunger strike.

As if all of this weren’t bad enough, Oscar Thornton (the mark) and his goons know exactly where I am, and they’re working to get all of us released because they still want to kill me.

You’re probably wondering how I’ll get out of this. I don’t know yet, but I’m sure I’ll figure out something. That’s what grifters do.

You can read more about Elizabeth in City of Lies, the first book in the NEW “Counterfeit Lady” mystery series.

Every woman plays a part — but some are more dangerous than others. . .

Like most women, Elizabeth Miles assumes many roles; unlike most, hers have made her a woman on the run. Living on the edge of society, Eliz uses her wiles (and wits) to make a living from the ill-gotten gains of so-called respectable men. But brutal and greedy entrepreneur Oscar Thornton has lost a great deal of money and is not going to forgive a woman for outwitting him. He’s out for blood. With his thugs hot on her trail, Elizabeth seizes the moment to blend in with a group of women with an agenda of their own. Even when they’re arrested, she still counts herself lucky; after all, jail is the safest place she could be.

She never expects to like or understand these privileged women, but she soon comes to respect them and realizes that there may be more to life than chasing other people’s fortunes. As Elizabeth forms an unlikely bond with the matriarch of the group and realizes her son Gabriel is the rarest of species, an honest man in a dishonest world, her new life begins to take shape. But Oscar Thornton hasn’t forgotten her and is biding his time in this gilded orbit, waiting to strike. Will Elizabeth’s new life be cut short by this vicious shadow from her past?

“Don’t miss City of Lies, an exciting story of intrigue, deception and love” –Catherine Coulter
Author of Insidious

“Suffragists, socialites, grifters, and goons at the last gasp of the Gilded Age. This is how to start a series! Thompson brings an irresistible heroine onstage, backs her up with a terrific cast of sidekicks, and delivers a rattling good plot. There’s rich thread of US history skillfully woven in too. I loved it.” –Catriona McPhersonbestselling author of the multi-award-winning Dandy Gilver series.

“Victoria Thompson gives us a fresh new series with clever Elizabeth Miles, a con artist on the run. City of Lies is the real deal, a genuinely different series. Buy this book. You’ll love it — and that’s no lie.” — Elaine Viets
author of Fire and Ashes, an Angela Richman, Death Investigator mystery

Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of City of Lies. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends November 8, 2017. Good luck everyone!

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About the author
Edgar® and Agatha Nominated author Victoria Thompson writes the Gaslight Mystery Series, set in turn-of-the-century New York City and featuring midwife Sarah Brandt. Her latest, Murder in the Bowery, was a May 2017 release. City of Lies is the first book in her new Counterfeit Lady series, a November 2017 release from Berkley. She also contributed to the award winning writing textbook Many Genres/One Craft. Victoria teaches in the Seton Hill University master’s program in writing popular fiction. She lives in Illinois with her husband and a very spoiled little dog. Find out more at www.victoriathompson.com.

I live just down the road from the Workhouse and have seen where the suffragettes were imprisoned. A small museum shows some of what these women endured. The release of Victoria Thompson’s book just before Election Day is so appropriate.

I think of those women before me who fought for a women’s right to vote. These were determined women who fought for equality for us women. Use your vote wisely, they suffered so we could have this privilege. I’m looking forward to reading Victoria Thompson’s latest novel.

I’ve read several, but not all, of Victoria’s Gaslight Mystery series and have loved each story. I am so looking forward to reading this new series. It sounds like an exciting book and would love the chance to win a copy. Thanks to the author for hours of enjoyable reading, now and in the future.

Victoria Thompson is a marvelous author that captures the readers imagination and soul from the first page of every one of her books. You are literally transported to turn of the century New York City and Sara Brent and Frank Malloy are your best friends. You feel their feelings and you are living their lives. I love her books. Now Ms Thompson has developed an exciting new heroine! I can’t wait to get cozy in my favorite chair under a warm Afghan with a nice cup of hot tea and delve right into it. Take me away Ms Thompson!

This author is one fantastic writer! I look forward with anticipation for this new series! If it is half as great as the other one it will be a winner and I do believe it will be! Women can be and maybe most are as astute as men!
Great storyline! Keep up the excellent work Victoria!
Thank you so much for a chance to win a fabulous book.
Jane

When I first read about this series, I thought I probably would not be interested, but since I’ve read more about it, I’ve decided to at least read the first one of this series. Would love to win, but if not, library here I come.

Victoria Thompson has always been a pro-instrument for presenting women in her books, as strong minded intellegent individuals who aren’t controlled by the role, society has placed on them. They are not afraid of speaking up for the right to be valued as someone who is capable of making decisions.
The timing of the release of City of Lies with Election Day only emphasizes how the fight for equality still needs growth. I am looking forward to starting this new series with the heroine Elizabeth Miles. I will start reading it after I finish my work as a poll worker on Election Day.

Thanks for your work with the elections! It’s such a valuable service. We should all be grateful to the women who suffered so we have this important right. And thanks for your kind words about the Gaslight Mysteries.

I really like reading historical fiction and learning more about the women that fought for the right to vote. They fought for those who came after them as well as themselves. Looking forward to reading.

I am glad to find an author that holds ny attention throughout a story, as often I just skip through portions. Loved Murder InThe Bowery and although I knew about the Newsboy strike, I felt closer to it in this book. Am definitely looking forward to the new book coming out in my birthday month. Since I live on SS, the library is my place to get them. If they are worth rereading, I order used through Amazon and share them with others in the local writers’ club. WTG!

As I shared with you by email I’ve been a lot or research on my family tree to some extent spurred on by your writing in the Gaslight Mysteries and my connections with many of the historical figures of the time including Teddy Roosevelt and his cousins. along with many of the knickerbockers. I am looking forward to reading this new series partially because con men in stories like Confidence and the Sting and because Woodrow Wilson was my 18th cousin. Some of that period was also covered well in the mini series Iorn Jawed Angels